Circuit-changing device



Jah. 26, 1932. v l w. J. DAY 1,842,963 CIRCUIT CHANGING DEVICE` Filed Nov 5, 1927 A 2 sheets-sheet 1 s@.llllllllllllmmnw lille# Inv@ rwtor1 y: Wmte rton J. Day,

HLS Attor-D' y.

Jan. 26,y 1932. w. J. DAY 1,842,963 v CIRCUIT CHANGING DEVICE Filed Nov. 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventoh: Y Wmtertor J. Day, by H15 Attorney.

Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED S"r-TES,` [PATENT OFFICE? l WINTERTCN J, DAY, or ALJELAus,NewA YORK, AssICNon ATo AvGENERAL ELECTRIC l COMPANY, AA CQBPCRATICN or New Yom:

" n y erneute-CHANGING :DEVICE Appuation mea November' 5,1927. serial No. 231,3es.

My invention relatesV to an automaticv circuit-changing device. More particularly it relates to a circuit-changing device especially adapted for use as anautomatic lamp changer. 'Devices of this sort are especially adaptedffor use in connection with lighthouses, aviation landin iields, and the like.

Among theo jects of my invention are, towprovide a ldevice'ofthe foregoing char- 110 acter with a plurality of lamps; to provide means wherebyif one ofgthe lamps burns out anotherl lamp is automatically substituted for the burned out lamp; and to provide a tripping arrangement under the control of an electromagnetic device, which device is in turn under the control of a relay.

i Other objects of the invention will appear from the 'followingspecificatiom in which the means for accomplishing the results of the invention are fully set forth and claimed,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. lshows the device in elevation and in perspective, part of the frame of the device being brokenawayfin order to more clearly show the details. This view may be considered as aview from the front of the device. Fig. 2is aside view of the device of Fig. 1 as viewed from the right,

Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic layout oi the circuits of the device.

Referring more in detailto the drawings and in particular to 1, it will be seen that the device is provldediwith'a pair oi lamps 2 and. '3f located in Jfront of a reflector' XuThese lamps are supportedV on a platorm4, which is "mounted to oscillateabout ashaft 5. This: shaft-is `supported by the two frame elements 6'an'd`7jjf1n connection with thep'latform 4 there areprovide'd a pair of latch dogs 8 and' 9 carriedV by shafts, and 9a' and yieldingly held against lsuitable stopsby a spring 9b, shown in Fig. 2 as comprisinga pini)c projects from the frame 7l and is engaged `by an .arm 9d on shaft 9a.l When the platform is inthe position'shown in Fig. 1, the

dog 9'engages the stirrup 10 (see Fig. 3) and holdsthe platform in the position shown in Fig.-1. Ingits original position, however,

Vthe platform of the device isV tilted in the one of the stopsbeing which reverse position as indicated Iin Fig. 3 :with the dog Sengaging the stirrup l11 and holding the platform tiltedas indicated in1Fig. 3. When the platform is in' this position, the lamp 3 is in operative relation-with respect to the reiiector as indicated in F-ig.1 and in operation, that is, in circuit with `theterminals 12 and 13, as may be clearly seen by an inspection of Fig. 3, across which ter*- minals a generatoror other source ocurrent may be connected; The platform 4 is providedl on its under .side with apair of circuit closing contacts 14 and 15. Contact-14 is connected with' lamp 2, whereascontactl is connected with lamp 3. The/flow oi"` current through the lamp 3 is as follows: from terminal12and by way of conductors 16, 17, 18 to the lamp 3, 'thence by way ofc'om ductors 19 and 20 and by wayof Contact 15 and contact bars 21, 22, to conductor 23, thence through relay 24 to the terminal 13. The contact bar 21 is yieldinglyV mounted above the bar 22 on a pair ofcushion springs Acontacts 31A and `32 of the relay 24. :.Therefore, during thejperiod that the :lamp '3 is Y burning current fis prevented vfrom flowing throughy the magnet 30. j

l Y Assuming now `that the iilainenteoit[the lamp' 3 burns out it follows necessarilythat 1 the circuit through` theV relay 24 will beini `t'errupted."As a result therelay 24 decnergizes and the circuit for the trip magnet 30 is closed whenthe contacts 31, v32 close. CurrentY will` then flew from. theterminal 12 through the trip magnet 30 `and through the Vcontact l1,5 and bars 21, 22,1and'through the Vrelay 24 to terminal 13. As a result the trip Amagnet EBOis energizedv and theplunger 33 is raised and caused to strike the trigger 34, to which the dog 8 is attached with the result that the platform 4 is unlatched. As soon as this takes place the tension spring 35 reverses the position of the platform, thus substituting one lamp for the other in the focal region of the reflector' and causing the platform to be latched by the dog 9 and causing at the same time the contact 14 to engage the bar 21 thereby closing a circuit through lamp 2, Fig. 3. This circuit extends as follows: from terminal 12 and by way of conductors 16, 17, 36, to lamp 2, thence over conductor 37 to the contact 14, thence by way of bars 21, 22, through the relay 24, and thence to terminal 13.

AAfter the lamp 3 burns out the apparatus remains in its reversed position until a repairman has an opportunity to replace the burned out lamp. INhen he does so he then manually reverses the platform 4. In order to do so, however, he must, of course, manually trip the dog 9 out of engagement with the stirrup 10.

It will be seen that when the circuit is originally closed through the device, as shown in Fig. 3, where the device is represented in the initial position, that is, in the position in which the lamp 3 is in circuit, the magnet 30 is shunted by the lamp 3. The result is that the magnet 30 receives a very small amount of current. Furthermore, the resistance of the magnet 30 is much greater than the resistance of the relay 24. Under the circumstances, therefore, when the circuit is originally closed for lighting the lamp 3, the relay 24 will energize to break the circuit of the magnet 30 and the magnet 30 is not suficiently energized to operate the plunger 33. Obviously, therefore, when the circuit is originally closed, the device cannot trip. However, when the lamp 3 burns out the shunt is removed from the magnet 30 and the magnet 30 is energized in series with the relay 24, the relay 24 being of low resistance and the magnet 30 being of high resistance and being free from the shunt mentioned. The magnet 30 will operatively energize while the relay 24 will not. Under the circumstances, therefore, thedevice will trip, substituting the lamp 2 for the lamp 3.

It will be understood that the device shown in the drawings may be located within the drum of the searchlight, for example, in such position that when the platform 4 is tilted as shown in Fig. 3, the lamp 3 will be located in the focal region, and when the platform 4 is tripped the lamp 2 will be substituted for the lamp 3 in the focal region.

It will be understood that while I have disclosed my invention in connection with a specified form of apparatus, I do not wish to be so limited inasmuch as in view of the disclosure, variations and modifications which do not depart from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the claims herein will readily occur to those versed in the art. For example, while I have shown the relay 24 inserted in circuit between the bar 22 and the terminal 13, this relay may be inserted in series with the conductor 19 between the lamp 3 and the lpoint 37 where the conductor 19 joins the conductor 20. With such an arrangement neither the magnet 30 no1` the relay 24 are in circuitV when the platform 4 is tripped as a result of the burning out of lamp 3.

The device may be operated not only in connection with a searchlight, but it may also be used in connection with a Fresnel lens, such for example, as used in connection with lighthouses and aeroplane lield lighting. In such case, the Fresnel lens constitutes a light modifying element just as the reflector in the searchlight constitutes a light modifying element. In neither case the active lamp is brought into a region in operative relation to the reflector or to the Fresnel lens best suited for obtaining the form of illumination desired.

Ihat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a signal device, a projector comprising a reflector and a first socket adapted to rcceive a first electric lamp and a second socket adapted to receive a second electric lamp, a support for said sockets pivotedV to rotate about an axis, means for holding said support in one position with the rst lamp in the focal region of the reflector and with the second lamp away from said focal region, means for operating said support about its axis toward a new position when the filament of said first lamp breaks whereby the second lamp is substituted for the rst in said focal region and whereby a new lamp may be substituted in the first socket for the broken one while the second lamp is burning, means for limiting the rotation of said support about its axis, said means comprising resilient means interposed in the path of said support to retard the rotation of the support as it approaches the limit of its new or second position, a stop element for holding'the support in its second position with the second lamp in the focal region of the refiector, said resilient means tending to rotate the/support away from its second position and toward the first and against said stop for positively maintaining the lamp in the second socket in the proper position in said' focal region.

2. In a lamp changer, a support and a plural-ity of lamps, means on said support for holding each lamp in a different position, means for moving said support whereby one of the lamps may be substituted for the other in a given position, resilient means located to oppose the motion of the support for bringing the support to a stop, a latch for latching the support in its new position against rebound, andresilient means for holding the latch and the support in interlocked relation.

3. In a lamp changer, a pair of lamps mounted on a support, said support being mounted to turn about an axis, a latch mechanism for retaining the support in one position, a relay connected in circuit with one of said lamps and adapted to be energized in series with the lamp, a magnet, a circuit for said magnet, an armature for the magnet for operating said latch to release said support, means for moving the support from one position to another when released whereby one lamp may be substituted in place of the other, the circuit of said magnet being under the control of saidsupport at one point and of said relay at a different point whereby when the lamp in the relay circuit burns out the said armature operates the latch to release the lamp support and to thereby open the circuit of the magnet, a resilient cushion for stopping the movement of the support, and a latch for holding the support in its new position against rebound, and resilient means for holding the support and the last mentioned latch in interlocked engagement.

4. In a lamp changer, a reflector, a support and a pair of lamps mounted thereon, said support being pivotally mounted to oscillate about an a-Xis back and forth between two positions whereby the lamps may b-e moved back and forth and either lamp substituted for the other in a given position with respect to said reflector, a latch for hol-ding the support in one position and a second latch for holding the support in the other position, and resilient means for retarding the movement of said support as it approaches the limit of either one of its positions, said resilient means operating also to hold the support against either latch.

5. In a lamp changer, a reflector, a support with a pair of lamps located thereon, said support being mounted to oscillate back and forth alternately into either of two positions about an airis wherebyV either of said lamps may be substituted for the other in the focal region of said reflector, resilient means for re-tarding the movement of said support as it approaches the limit of either one of its positions, a pair of latches, one for holding said support in one position and the other for holding the support in the other position, said resilient means also for holding either latch in locked engagement with said support, and electromagnetic means comprising a relay and a magnet, said relay being in series with one of Vthe lamps and said magnet being under the control of the relay whereby when the iilament of the lamp in series with the relay breaks the relay is operated and the magnet operated in turn to cause the support to move from one position to the other.

6. In a light projector, a reflector, a pair Y of electric lamps mounted on a support, said support beingv pivoted toe oscillate about an axis between` two positions whereby one` of saidV lamps may be` substituted for the other .in a given position with respect to the reflector, latching means for `holding the support F' in either of the two positions regardless of the current for either lamp Vwhile their.y filaments are intact, means independent of the light of either lamp for operating said support about its axis to substitute one of said lamps for the other when the filament of `one ofsaid lamps breaks whereby'the second 4lamp may be. substituted for the rst, and resilient means for retarding the movement of; said supportas it approaches thelimit of either i ing the support in its new position against rebound, said resilientmeans.to-hold the latch and the supportin'interlocked engagement, a pair of switchesone for eachlamp interposed ',.betweenthe supportand the said resilient 'means and comprising part of said means. i

8. In a light projectona frame, a reflector, a support pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame for oscillation ina plane ,parallel to said reflector, a lamp carried by said support at either end thereof, contacts depending fromsaid support at either end thereof, a contact bar secured to said frame adjacent to and below said support, releasable means for maintaining one of thefcontacts on said support in engagement with said contact bar to maintain one `of said lamps in focused relation to said reeflctona circuit `including said contact and said con tact bar for supplying current to said lamp,

mea-ns responsive to the failurevrof said lamp for actuating said releasablefmeans to permit said contact to be disengaged from said con,- t-act bar, means for moving said support about its; pivot to bring the otherlain'pfinto focused relation to Asaid reelctor, and' said other contact into/.engagement with said conllilo tact bar, and means for securing said support in said last named position.

9. In a lamp changer having a reflector, a

. support pivotally mounted for oscillation in l a plane parallel to said reflector anda lamp carried by said support at either end thereof, whereby said lamps may be interchangeably moved into focus relative to said reliector, contacts carried by said support at either end thereof, a contact bar adapted to be engaged by one of said contacts when the support is at one limit of its oscillation and by the other of said contacts when the support ,A is at the other limit of its oscillation, a latch for releasably holding one of said contacts in engagement With the contact bar to normally maintain one of the lamps in focus relative to said reflector, means operable upon the re- Y I5 lease of said latch for moving said support to its other limit of oscillation to move the other lamp into focus relative to said reflector and to enga-ge the other of said contacts with said contact bar, means for securing the 1*0 support in said last named position, and a circuit for supplying` current to said lamps When in focused position, said circuit including said contact bar and the contact in engagement therewith. 1 5 l0. In a lamp changer' having a reflector, a support pivotally mounted for oscillation in a plane parallel to said reflector and a lamp carried by said support at either end thereof whereby said lamps may be interchangeably moved into focus relative to said reflector, contacts carried by said support at either end thereof, a contact bar adapted to be engaged by one of said contacts when the support is at one limit of its oscillation and by the other of said contacts when the support is at the other limitofits oscillation, a latch for releasably holding one of said contacts in engage ment With the contact bar to normally maintain one of the lamps in focus relative to said reiector, a normally closed circuit including said contact bar and the contact in engagement therewith for supplying current to the focused lamp, a relay in said circuit, a normally open circuit in shunt with said firstnamed circuit, an electromagnet in said normally open circuit adapted When energized to release said latch, said relay being adapted, on the failure of the focused lamp in the closed circuit, to close said normally open circuit to energize said electromagnet, means for moving' the support to its other limit of oscillation to move the other lamp into focus, and to engage the other of said contacts With aid contact bar, and means for securing the support in said last named position whereby said normally closedcircuit is again closed and said normally open circuit is again opened.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this ith day of November, 1927.

WINTERTON J. DAY. 

